Fruit-packing bench.



L. E. TUCKER n 0. L. MISKBLL.'

v FRUIT PACKINGv BENCH.

'uPLI'oA'HoN FILED Nov.. za', 1910.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

7 6 www. A j? w@ 1HE Hormis Enns c n .a E sfraEs LAURENCE E. TUCKER AND OLIVER L. MISKELL, OF UPLAND, CALIFORNIA.

FRUIT-PACKING BENCH.

enanos.

Application filed November 28, 1910.

[b all whom it may concern:

le it known that we, LAURENCE E. TUCKER and OLIVER L. MTSKELL, citizens of the United States, residing at Upland, in the county of San Bernardino and State of California, have invented a new and useful Fruit-Packing Bench, of which the following is a specification.

This invention r'elates to a bench for use in holding fruit boxes while they are being packed, and the main object of the invention is to facilitate transfer of the box when packed, from the bench to the receiving and delivering means, for example, a conveyer.

Another object of the invention is to avoid the loss of fruit due to rough handling of the box in such transfer.

ln packing fruit, for example, oranges and lemons, it is usual to place the box on benches during the packing operation and then lift and carry the packed boxes onto the conveyer. With high-packed orange boxes the weight of the packed boxes is so great that the lifting and carrying from the bench to the conveyer is diiiicult for the girls usually employed in the packing operation, with the result that many persons are unwilling' to take the work, who would otherwise be available as packers. Moreover, there is a liability of bumping the boxes into the conveyer in lifting onto the same with the result that some of the fruit is spilled and damaged. The present invention is designed particularly to overcome these objections.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

rlhe accompanying drawings illustrate the invention, and referring` thereto: Figure l is a perspective of the bench. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bench. Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing the box in position for packing. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the bench in position for delivery to conveyer. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan showing the application of the bench in connection with the bins and conveyer.

The bench comprises a frame which may consistof a rectangular frame portion 1, provided with legs 2, said frame portion l being forwardly and downwardly inclined to form a support for a box supporting member 3, hinged to the frame member l at 4, and provided with means for supporting the boxes consisting, for example, of rollers 5 journaled at 6 on said top member 3.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

Serial No. 594,592.

hletal strips T may be provided on the top or box supporting member 3 to prevent injury thereto by bumping of the boxes thereon, and a metal bar S may be provided, extending diagonally from the rear of the member 3 near one end thereof, forming a guide or support for the boxes when being pushed from the box supporting member as hereinafter set forth. A ledge or iiange 9 is provided along the front edge of member 3 to hold the boxes from slipping off.

Means are provided for temporary elevation of the forward end of the box support-- ing member 3, consisting, for example, of a retaining frame comprising vertical side bars 10, hinged to the member 3 at 11, and a cross rail 14 connecting side bars 10 and adapted to rest on a cross rail 12 secured to the forward legs 2 of the bench frame. The upper end portions 13 of the fra-me bars 10, are so cut that when the lower rail 14 of said frame is resting on the fixed rail 12, the upper end 13 of the said rails 10 will engage the bottom of the front bar 1b of the frame 3, but by pushing' on the lower rail 14 of the retaining frame, said rail 14 may be forced back off of the rail 12, the joint between the wooden members 13 and 16 being compressed in this operation and tend ing to spring the detent frame forward so that when the top member 3 with said detentframe is raised, the rail 14 on said detent frame will snap over on top of the fixed rail 12. The side bars 10 of the detent frame extend down a sufficient distance so that when the top member 3 is in normal inclined position, the bottoms of said side bars 10 will resty on the floor. Legs 2 of the bench frame have casters 17 to enable the bench to be readily moved.

The operation is as follows: The box to be packed is placed on the top or box supporting member 8 of the bench, in the manner indicated at 18 in Fig. 3, the said member 3 being at this time in lowered position so as to present the box in convenient position for packing, and the legs 10 resting on the floor so as to hold the bench from moving` while the box is being packed. The bench is at this time adjusted to the fruit bins 19 as indicated in Fig. 5 to facilitate the packing. Vhen the box has been packed, the operator lifts the front end of the box supporting member 3 until the said `member swings up to position shown in Fig. 4, and the retaining frame depending from said member 3 swings forward as shown, so that its cross rail 14 passes onto the top of the cross rail 12 of the bench frame, thereby retaining the box supporting member in raised horizontal position. The operator then trundles or pushes the bench away from the fruit bins indicated at 19 in Fig. 5, and over to the conveyer indicated at 20 in said figure, placing it obliquely with the bar 8 projecting over the edge of the conveyer. The bench is of such height that at this time the bottom of the box will be level with or slightly above the surface of the conveyer, so that the operator can easily push the box by direct'horizontal mot-ion,oifl the top of the bench onto the conveyer, the box rolling on the rollers 5 until its forward portion passes onto the conveyer and the rear portion of the box being then shoved onto the bracket or bar 8, the forward movement of the conveyer drawing the box with it and aiding the transfer.

Vhat we claim is:

1. A fruit packing bench, comprising a frame, a box supporting member hinged on the top of said frame to swing to a lowered inclined position, and to a raised horizontal position, and means for retaining said box supporting member in raised horizontal p0- sition.

2. A fruit packing bench, comprising a frame, a box supporting member hinged on the top of said frame to swing to a lowered inclined position and to a raised horizontal position, and means for retaining said box supporting member in raised horizontal position, comprising a retaining member hinged to said box supporting member and swinging forwardly and rearwardly, and means on the bench frame for engaging said retaining member.

3. A fruit packing bench, comprising a frame, a box supporting member hinged on the top of said frame to swing to a lowered inclined position and to a raised horizontal position, and means for retaining said box supporting member in raised horizontal position, said boxjsupporting member being provided with rollers for supporting the box.

4L. A fruit packing bench, comprising a frame, a box supporting member hinged on the top of said frame to swing to a lowered inclined position and to a raised horizontal position, and means for retaining said' box supporting member in raised horizontal position, comprising a member hinged t0 said box supporting member and swinging forwardly and rearwardly thereon, and means on the bench frame for engaging said retaining member, said bench frame having wheeled supports to enable the same to be moved to different positions, and said retaining member being adapted to engage the floor when the box supporting member is in lowered position, to hold the bench from moving.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Upland, California, this 22nd day of November, 1910.

LAURENCE E. TUCKER. OLIVER L. MISKELL. In presence of- Mrs. CERDA MOON, FRANK D. MoCULLocH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington. D. C. 

